Sue Dodge
Sue Dodge | |
|---|---|
| Born | Sue Ellen Chenault 1950 Little Rock, Arkansas |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Years active | 1969-present |
| Known for | The Downings, Speer Family, Gaither Homecoming |
| Spouse | Amos Dodge (1974-present) |
| Awards | GMA Dove Award for Female Vocalist Of The Year (1971-72-73-74)
GMA Hall Of Fame (1998; as a member of the Speer Family) SGMA Hall Of Fame (2023) |
| Website | https://suedodge.com/ |
Early years
[edit]Sue Ellen Chenault Dodge[1] was born in Little Rock, Arkansas. She was the only daughter and the youngest of three children. Her father worked for Alcoa, and her mother was a stay-at-home mom.[2] Her parents encouraged her interest in music,[3] and she sang a solo on television at age 5.[4] She became a Christian when she was in the fifth grade,[2] and she sang and played piano at a church of which her brother was pastor.[5] When she was 16 she sang daily with The Miller Trio on television station KATV in Little Rock.[4]
in 1968, Dodge won the Miss Benton beauty pageant and the Miss Congeniality title in the Miss Arkansas competition.[6]
Career
[edit]Dodge began her career in southern gospel music in 1969 when, at age 19, she joined The Downings.[4] After 18 months with that group, she began singing with the Speer Family. During Dodge's early days with the Speers, she lived with them and considered them family. Years later, she said, "Brock Speer was like a daddy to me."[2] While she sang with the Speers, she was named Female Vocalist of the Year four times (1971-72-73-74) during the GMA Dove Awards. She also was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame as a member of the Speer Family in 1998.[4]
After her marriage in 1974, Dodge left the Speers to be with her evangelist husband. She sang backup vocals at Rainbow Sound Studios in Dallas, Texas, and did occasional concerts. She also was a member of the Gospel Music Association's board of directors.[5]
In 1979, Dodge and her husband founded Capital Church in Washington, D. C.[7] She directed the church's women's ministry, planned the music, and often sang and played the piano for worship services.[2] By 2019 they had retired from pastoring that church, and she was traveling with a full-time ministry. Throughout her career, she has performed in 18 countries.[4] Venues in which she has performed include Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Music Hall Aberdeen in Scotland, Westminster Hall in London, and Carnegie Hall in New York City.[7]
In the 1990s, Dodge began performing in Gaither Homecoming activities, balancing the time for those recordings and concerts with her responsibilities at Capital Church and with her family.[8]
In addition to the Gaither Homecoming programs, Dodge has appeared on other TV shows including The 700 Club and In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley.[9] She released her first DVD, "The Best of Sue Dodge" in 2010. It combines the story of her life with some of her Homecoming performances.[8] She has recorded more than 15 albums,[10] including the CDs "Let Me Tell You About Jesus"[7] and "Faithful".[11]
Sue's latest project "Then Sings My Soul" was released in 2022, she describes it as an eclectic collection of some her favorite songs. In 2023 Sue was inducted into the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame. In 2024 Sue Dodge celebrated 55 years in Southern Gospel Music.
Personal life
[edit]In 1974, she married Amos Dodge.[3] They have one daughter.[8] Early in their marriage, he was an evangelist, and they lived in Hurst, Texas.[5]
Discography (incomplete)
[edit]| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| You're Still Lord |
|
| Most Holy, Most High |
|
| Further Still |
|
| On My Way |
|
| Hope |
|
| God's Been Good |
|
| Old Time Way |
|
| Through It All |
|
| Best Of Sue Dodge |
|
| Faithful |
|
| Let Me Tell You About Jesus |
|
| A Joyful Christmas |
|
| Then Sings My Soul |
|
References
[edit]- ^ "Gospel Singing Set At Garrard Church". The Advocate-Messenger. Kentucky, Danville. January 13, 1970. p. 5. Retrieved May 27, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d Stewart, Phyllis (July 20, 2003). "Abiding in Faith, Inspiring in Song". The Daily News. Pennsylvania, Lebanon. p. 13. Retrieved May 28, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Liverett, David (2013). This Is My Story: 146 of the World's Greatest Gospel Singers. Thomas Nelson. ISBN 978-0-529-11032-9. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e "Sue Dodge Celebrates 50 Years of Ministry". singingnews. Singing News Magazine. April 15, 2019. Archived from the original on May 27, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
- ^ a b c Harrison, Don (October 12, 1974). "Gospel song superstar now Hurst housewife". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Texas, Fort Worth. p. 4. Retrieved May 27, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Helen Rose Gennings New Miss Arkansas". Hope Star. Arkansas, Hope. July 15, 1968. p. 6. Retrieved May 27, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c "About Sue". Sue Dodge. Marcie Gray Management & Design. 2020. Archived from the original on May 27, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
- ^ a b c "About Sue Dodge". Gaither. Archived from the original on May 27, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
- ^ Blankenship, Jack L. (May 19, 2012). "Gospel singer Sue Dodge set to perform at Lancaster church". Lancaster Eagle-Gazette. Ohio, Lancaster. p. 3. Retrieved May 28, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Song evangelists slated at Nazarene". Tampa Bay Times. Florida, St. Petersburg. March 26, 1977. p. 73. Retrieved May 28, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Williams, Lindsay (February 1, 2014). "Sue Dodge: Faithful, Constant and True". homecomingmagazine.com. Salem Publishing. Archived from the original on May 27, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.